Rosa Parks Tribute At St Paul AME Today

A gathering will be held today [Dec 1] at St. Paul AME Hall to mark the 70th anniversary of Rosa Parks’ historic stand.

A spokesperson said, “Monday, December 1st marks the 70th anniversary of Rosa Parks’ iconic stand and diverse members of the local community are collaborating in leveraging this significant milestone as we think globally and act locally.

“A celebratory gathering will be held from 12.30pm to 1.30pm at the St. Paul AME Hall on Victoria Street, a most appropriate venue as Mrs. Parks was a loyal member of St. Paul AME Church in Montgomery. The host pastor – Rev Nicholas Tweed – is bringing his considerable depth to the table and the program is not a service, but will include a rich variety of engaging opportunities.

“This will include:

• “Artistic presentations, including a dance group from the Berkeley Institute and a singer from CedarBridge Academy.

• “A presentation by Justice Juan Wolffe exploring the global and local implications of the bus boycott, including activism and legal consideration, with particular reference to its implications for Bermuda.

“Rosa Parks’ iconic action on December 1, 1955 proved to be the catalyst for the Montgomery bus boycott, an unprecedented challenge to a decade-old regime of segregation. That courageous stand reminded most of the black community of Alabama’s capital of their agency, even against the odds, which included blatant terror. With the removal of that barrier after a year, the boycott produced positive ripples which ran far and wide.

“Mrs. Parks passed on the proverbial torch to others, across the U.S. and the globe, including Bermuda. By June 1959, the Progressive Group initiated the theatre boycott and numbers of locals responded thus guaranteeing the successful breakthrough.

“A key aspect of Mrs. Parks legacy is the foundation that she set up in her name and that of her husband, which reflects her passion for young people expressing their potential. In light of this, we are leveraging this celebration to foster the development of our own young people in two ways:

• “Some young people who have been nominated by their schools who have overcome challenges and manifested certain desirable qualities of character.

• “We are highlighting the exemplary voluntary engagement with young people by a sample of our communities champions in this regard.

“The ultimate goal of this gathering is to foster an aware sense of solidarity which is a hallmark of any vibrant community with a reverence for all. To facilitate that end, the Ministry of National Security is providing soup and rolls to the lunchtime attendees.”

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